Crocodile tears: Shivraj on Congress’ ‘MGNREGA Bachao’ protest
The Indian government’s recent decision to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) with the Vishwakarma Balram Ram G Act has sparked a heated debate across the country. The opposition party, Congress, has been vocal in its criticism of the move, claiming that it will harm the interests of rural workers who depend on the scheme for their livelihood. However, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has hit back at the Congress, accusing the party of shedding “crocodile tears” over the issue.
According to Chouhan, the Congress’s clamour against the replacement of MGNREGA is purely political and lacks substance. He pointed out that the Congress party, during its time in power, had consistently reduced the budget for MGNREGA, which is a clear indication of their lack of commitment to the scheme. “The Congress’s clamour is purely political…This is the same Congress that, from time to time, reduced the budget for MGNREGA,” he said.
The Minister’s remarks came after the Congress party announced its plans to launch a nationwide protest, dubbed ‘MGNREGA Bachao’, from January 5. The protest aims to mobilize public support against the government’s decision to replace MGNREGA with the VB-G RAM G Act. However, Chouhan remains unfazed by the Congress’s plans, saying that the government is committed to the welfare of rural workers and will ensure that their interests are protected under the new scheme.
The MGNREGA scheme, which was launched in 2006, guarantees 100 days of wage employment to rural households. The scheme has been instrumental in providing a safety net to rural workers, particularly during times of economic distress. However, the government has argued that the scheme has been plagued by corruption and inefficiencies, which has led to its replacement with the VB-G RAM G Act.
The VB-G RAM G Act, which was recently passed by the Parliament, aims to provide a more comprehensive and effective framework for rural employment. The new scheme will focus on skill development, entrepreneurship, and asset creation, in addition to providing wage employment. The government claims that the new scheme will provide better opportunities for rural workers and will help to promote economic growth and development in rural areas.
However, the Congress party has expressed its strong opposition to the replacement of MGNREGA, saying that it will harm the interests of rural workers. The party has argued that the new scheme is designed to benefit corporate interests and will lead to the exploitation of rural workers. The Congress has also accused the government of trying to undermine the rights of rural workers and of attempting to dismantle the social security net that was provided by MGNREGA.
The debate over the replacement of MGNREGA has sparked a heated discussion across the country, with many experts and activists weighing in on the issue. While some have welcomed the government’s decision to replace MGNREGA, others have expressed their opposition to the move. The Congress party’s decision to launch a nationwide protest against the replacement of MGNREGA is likely to escalate the debate and will put pressure on the government to reconsider its decision.
In conclusion, the controversy over the replacement of MGNREGA with the VB-G RAM G Act is a complex issue that has sparked a heated debate across the country. While the government claims that the new scheme will provide better opportunities for rural workers, the Congress party has expressed its strong opposition to the move, saying that it will harm the interests of rural workers. The Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s accusation that the Congress is shedding “crocodile tears” over the issue is a clear indication of the political undertones of the debate. As the Congress party prepares to launch its nationwide protest against the replacement of MGNREGA, it remains to be seen how the government will respond to the opposition’s demands.
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